It’s easy to explore a new city and have a fabulous time while doing so. Don’t let anything hold you back, especially not money. Just seize the opportunity and explore every nook and cranny; you never know when, or even if, you will be back.
It’s time to lace up your best walking shoes, throw on a coat if you need to, grab your sunglasses, put on your fitness watch, and hit the streets! Oh, and don’t forget your camera or phone! Just get up, go and start exploring your new city using these 12 low budget ideas that are guaranteed to give you a memorable & exciting adventure. If you read nothing else, you really should look our Pro Tips below. There is one for each section.
Table of Contents
01. Walk the streets. It’s okay if you get lost.
There are two ways to do this:
- You can do it Nick’s way, which involves planning a route, such as identifying the must-see attractions (and their opening hours), learning about any areas to avoid, and gathering other information and tips to help get the best from your city walk.
- Alternatively, you can do it my way, which means simply stepping out of your Airbnb or hotel, and just go where your spirit takes you. If you get lost, simply ask a local for directions to a major landmark.
Each has its pluses and minuses, but either way, walking a new city on foot is a fantastic way to meet people and absorb all the sounds, sights, scents, and authentic features that a city has to offer. And, it’s absolutely free! It’s also great to see that you racked up 10, 15 or 20,000 steps on your tracker.
OUR PRO TIP: If you can, take a small notebook and a pen to scribble down little details about your tour that you might forget when your trip is all over.
02. Walk across a Pedestrian-Friendly bridge
Bridges, especially pedestrian bridges are amazing. Firstly, you have the bridge itself: the architecture and structure (nearly every bridge is special, and many are unique). Then you have the views: where you have been, where you are heading next and, of course what lies beneath.
Don’t forget to admire the views from both sides of the bridge, as they can be totally different. Finally, there is the symbolic bridge between two very different cultures or vibes; think of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn or in Hungary crossing the Danube from Buda to Pest.
A brilliant and lesser-known example is the Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada which we visited in 2021. It’s a stunning piece of modern architecture in its own right, the views of the Bow River that flows under are wonderfully calming, and it joins the modern, commercial splendour of downtown Calgary to the hipster communities of Kensington and Sunnyside.
OUR PRO TIP: If you are doing a bridge tour on your own, selfies won’t be enough. Ask a passer-by to capture you with as much bridge backdrop as possible.
03. Take in the Street Art
If you are like me, an art lover who loves the outdoors and saving her money, the answer is easy: Street Art. These outdoor art galleries can be viewed from buildings, staircases, sidewalks and walls, as you walk the city.
Their visually bold and appealing colours inspire feelings of awe, amazement, pleasure, amusement and excitement. What a perfect selfie backdrop for your holiday photo!
OUR PRO TIP: Consider using a wide-angle lens if you are snapping photos of very large urban art pieces.
04. Check out the Craft Markets and Bazaars
A craft market or bazaar is the perfect place for finding affordable souvenirs, treasures, & gifts when traveling on a budget. The prices are typically better than in any shop, the merchandize more likely to be truly local and vendors more amenable to bargaining and negotiating.
Even if you don’t want to buy, enjoy mingling with locals, try the street food, watch local craftsmen as they work and discover indigenous spices and herbs.
OUR PRO TIP: Be alert when you walk through bazaars and keep an eye open for pickpockets or targets.
05. Visit Historical Cathedrals and Mosques
Among the most fascinating sights in any city are the cathedrals, churches and mosques where you will find the most extraordinary and detailed craftmanship.
From ornate walls to intricately painted stained glass and expansive ceilings, these monumental beauties have a certain majestic and awe-inspiring quality to them.
While there is an increasing number of houses of worship that charge for access, most are still free of charge, or ask for voluntary donations; in the latter case, do not feel pressured to make a donation, or one larger than you can afford: just give what you can.
OUR PRO TIP: Be sure to familiarize yourself with the visiting protocols for cathedrals and mosques. Some will require you to cover your hair or remove your shoes and hats. Check to make sure it’s okay to use your camera and mobile phone.
06. Entertain yourself with a Free Street Show or Concert
If you are lucky, or plan well, you may be in a city during a festival or show that includes street performers. When the weather is good, you will usually find performers in most city centres.
These street performers are often exceptionally talented and can put on remarkable and innovative shows without you having to spend a dime. While music coming from guitar strings or drums as you walk the streets can be fabulous, visual performing artists are usually the most memorable. If you can, please try to find at least a few pennies to show your appreciation for any performance you particularly enjoy.
By far our most memorable free concert was ambling aimlessly into Ban Jelačić Squarin Zagreb, as a free concert by leading Croatian pop start, Petar Grašo was about to start. It was raining and we couldn’t understand a word, but what a fabulous show by a performer who is clearly a national treasure in Croatia. Have you ever tried singing along to a song in Croatian (unless you are Croatian of course)? We have, sort of and it was great fun.
OUR PRO TIP: Check out websites and apps such as “All Events In City” to discover upcoming local street events near you.
07. Try some street food
When the hunger pangs start to kick in, see if you can find a food truck or street food to get a real taste of the local cuisine. Street food vendors typically serve generous portions, the food is usually amazing and you get good value for your money.
If your travel budget does not allow for street food, don’t worry, just head to the nearest supermarket or local market and buy some fresh food for cooking.
08. Check out the Local Markets
We always head to local markets or farmer’s markets when in a new city; it’s one of our favourite eco-friendly activities to do. Walk the aisles, touch, feel, smell and savour the local produce and see if you can find some indigenous foods.
Farm vendors will sometimes offer samples of their foods to encourage you to buy from them and what an incredible way of tasting and savouring the local fruits and naturally grown vegetables.
As you roam the market, strike up conversations with vendors and shoppers; they may have some useful tips for you. You might even pick up a few local words or expressions, that will be useful during the rest of your stay.
OUR PRO TIP: In most cases, the selection, quality and price of farm produce are much better than you get in grocery stores. You will usually find great value food stalls at these markets too.
09. Visit the nearest lake, ocean, river, beach or boardwalk
Humans are drawn to water. It’s why homes located by lakes, rivers and the ocean are more expensive. Being near to water adds calm, happiness, tranquillity and relaxation to your travel experience.
Whether you choose to sit on a rock and watch rafters and fishing boats go by, or listen to the gentle movements of the waves, gaze at the sunset, breathe in fresh air, view skyscrapers or look out on the gorgeous horizon, you are bound to experience a feeling of awe and oneness with nature when you are next to water.
Take every opportunity you have available to visit the nearest lake, beach, river, waterfront, pond or ocean. What better way to live in the moment!
OUR PRO TIP: Cities, are increasingly showcasing their waterfronts and harbours as hip, picturesque, vibrant urban destinations. They can be packed with things to see and do from exploring local street food kiosks to free cultural events and performances.
10. Have a Relaxing Break in a Public Library
OK, sometimes public libraries can be dull, but increasingly they are breath-taking places with interactive resources and stunning architecture with a fraction of the crowds that the more popular attractions receive. They are also free and provide relaxing and safe resting spots where you can connect to free Wi-Fi, catch up on emails and messages, read the local news, get to know local authors and artists, and get tips on the best places to see in the city.
Canada in particular has some incredibly innovative and fascinating public libraries and two of our favourites are the Calgary Central Library and the Halifax Central Library. Both are stunning examples of modern public architecture (inside and out). They also employ friendly, welcoming staff, and have affordable coffee shops.
OUR PRO TIP: Before venturing out on your biblio-tour, check the library’s website for scheduled weekly events that you will be able to enjoy such as art exhibitions or author readings.
11. Get a Free Walking Tour with a Local Guide
Most modern cities have scheduled foot tours led by locals who know the ins & outs of their city, and who have a passion for sharing this knowledge. You will learn plenty of insider intel about the city’s people, art, history and architecture. And don’t worry about your lack of local language skills, as these are often available in several major languages.
Not all walking tours are free but if you search the internet, you will usually find a few free, pay-what-you-want or low-cost ones. Some guides merely require a small tip.
OUR PRO TIP: This may sound like advice that your mother or grandmother would give; but stay hydrated on your walking tours. Beers, wine and cocktails will not do; just keep drinking good-old water.
12. Take a Hike
If you are a budget-conscious nature lover, hiking is the ultimate way to explore the countryside in or around the city.
Nothing beats the crisp fresh air, the wide-open blue space, the solitude, the mesmerizing views of the valleys and hillsides and stillness of the terrain.
OUR PRO TIP: Go for a trail that you can physically handle and walk with a companion if you can.
Hope you found these 12 tips useful and interesting. Don’t leave without dropping us a comment below and check out some of our other articles below.
Author
Monique Abbott
Hi, I ’m Monique, founder and editor-in-chief of Yes2Yolo, travel addict, lover of home makeover projects among many other passions, including creative and inspirational writing to embolden us to live our best lives. At my core, I am a creative artistic being and I believe that creativity knows no end.
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I’ve explored over 60 countries with my husband Nick. Together we’ve partnered on some truly exciting projects such as creating and running a successful Airbnb business, chairing condo boards, purchasing fixer-uppers and renovating them from scratch on our own while balancing all of this with full-time jobs and family.
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While my personal passions are travel and home décor, I am, by profession, a lawyer with over 17 years experience.
As usual your articles are relevant, full of great tips and interesting! Good going Monique and Nick!
Thank you so much Elizabeth! We appreciate you reading our articles!
Great ideas Monique!
Thank you Michelle!